"We're meant to be doing a pilot for America sometime and I'll believe that when it occurs," Popper said at a screening for the UK version's second series at this year's Edinburgh International Television Festival.

"That's all I can say, because when things happen in America, it's always sort of pretend."

Popper explained that any US remake of his series would have to keep "the principles of what [the original series] is".

"Hopefully it'll be good - the hard thing is you want to keep the comedic voice, so it's not so different that it doesn't feel like the show," he said.

"I'm not quite sure how they're going to do it and I can't say much - not allowed."